What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k median).

Milton has the most people working from home (29.7%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lowell	Milton
People
Population	118,368Highest	28,587Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA	41.1±1.8Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%	71.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9%	9.7%±1.1 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA	$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA	$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA	$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA
	Lowell and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA	$9,677Highest 61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#255 of 282 in MA	#55 of 282 in MA
School district	Lowell	Milton
High school in town	Lowell High	Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	12.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.